Filling feeler mechanism



April 27, 1943. c. D. BROWN ETAL 2,317,948

FILLING FEELER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 26, 1941 i A 'INVENTORS.

CAEL D. BEQWN. E/CHAED E CHAED.

TTOENE X Patented Apr. 27, 1943 FILLING FEELER MECHANISM Carl D. Brown, Hopedale, andRichard E. Chard,

Milford, Mass, assignors to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Maine Application September 26, 1941, Serial No. 412,481

18 Claims.

The present invention pertains to filling feeler mechanism for looms, and more particularly relates to such feeler mechanisms of the side slipping type.

As is well known in the art, the filling feeler mechanism of a loom repeatedly determines the condition of the filling supply in the loom shuttle and efiects a predetermined change in loom operation (usually replenishment of the filling supply) whenever such filling supply becomes substantially exhausted. In the side slipping type of feeler mechanism, afeeler member is arranged to have feeling movements transverse to the shuttle during normal loom operation, and a side slipping movement whenever the filling supply becomes substantially exhausted.

The feeler of such side slipping feeler mechanism may comprise a feeler blade or the like, commonly mounted for feeling movement forwardly of the loom and side slipping movement longitudinally of the shuttle, the feeler blade commonly having a filling engaging tip at its rearward end which frictionally engages the filling supply to thereby prevent side slipping while such supply is present.

Prior side slipping feeler mechanisms have included a spring acting on the feeler, the more common arrangement being such that the spring yieldingly resists the feeling and side slipping movements of the feeler and returns the feeler to its normal position after each such movement. There are several disadvantages in using a spring for this purpose. For example, we find that in such feelers as heretofore constructed any spring arrangement strong enough to induce proper action of the feeler is, ipso facto, so strong that it causes the feeler to cut or-fray very delicate filling such as rayon or the like.

Other disadvantages change in tension of the feeler spring as theresult of the repeated stresses and vibration incident to normal operation of the feeler mechanism.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a feeler mechanism including a side slipping feeler having feeling and side slipping movements as aforesaid, and a magnet acting to magnetically resist said feeling movementand include breakage or A further object is to provide a feeler mechanism as aforesaid wherein such magnet shall be arranged to magnetically resist both the feeling andside slipping movements of the feeler.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are accomplished in th construction illustrated on the accompanying drawing, of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the filling feeler mechanism comprising the preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover plate of such feeler mechanism being omitted; v V

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the action of the feeler when a supply of filling is present Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l but illustrating the action of the feeler when the filling supply is substantially exhausted;

Fig. 4 is a view in cross-section taken approximately on line 4-4of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 5 is a view in cross-section taken approximately on line 55 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 is a plan View of a part of said mechanism, with the feeler removed.

The said preferred embodiment of th present feeler mechanisms is shown, and will'be hereinafter described, as though it were mounte'd'in' fixed position in front of the shuttle 'box' on the usual automatic bobbin changing loom. Such loom being well known in the art, it is not shown or described herein except that Fig. 2 shows" part of the loom shuttle comprising a portion of a bobbin holding spring I, anda-bobbin 2.

The said shuttle andbobbin move forwardly and rearwardly of the loom, the forward direction being toward the bottom of the sheet of drawings on Figs. 1-3. The shuttle is also picked from side to side of the loom, but which picking movement is not material to the operation of the feeler mechanism.

The bobbin 2 carries a supply of filling thread F which unwinds from the bobbin during the weaving operation. The feeler mechanism detects substantial exhaustion of this 'filling supply, that it may be replenished, all as is well known in the art.

In the particular embodiment shown on the drawing, the feeler comprises a feeler blade 3 having a filling. engaging tip .4 atits rearward end. The feeler blade 3 is mounted, as will be herein aft-er. described, so as to have a forward feeling" movement and a side slipping movement indicating substantial exhaustion of the filling supply. The feeler blade 3 is shown in its normal position on Fig. 1. The forward feeling movement is imparted to the feeler blade by the filling supply F. That is, as the shuttle and bobbin 2 move forwardly th filling supply F engages the tip 4 of the feeler and moves the latter forwardly to the position indicated by Fig. 2. Friction between the filling supply F and tip 4 prevents side slipping of the feeler blade at this time.

After the filling supply F is unwound from the bobbin 2 sufficiently to expose the barrel 5 thereof, this barrel will engage the tip 4 when the shuttle and bobbin next move forwardly. The barrel 5 being relatively hard and smooth, forward movement of the bare bobbin results in the tip 4 sliding or slipping along the bobbin as indicated on Fig. 3. Such slipping movement is laterally or sidewise of the feeler blade 3 but longitudinally of the shuttle and bobbin. The side slipping of the feeler blade is utilizedto move an actuating wire 6 which may be connected in the usual manner with automatic bobbin Changing mechanism, not shown.

The feeler mechanism of the present invention includes a suitable means for supporting a side slipping feeler, such as blade 3, so as to permit the above mentioned movements of the feeler. The preferred supporting means shown comprises a feeler stand I which is adapted to be fixed to a loom in the position shown. This particular stand 1 includes a bottom 8 having upstanding side walls 9 and I0 and a cover ll secured to the top of said walls, thereby forming a housing for the forward portion of the feeler,

The inner vertical surfaces l2 and I2 of the respective walls 9 and I0 extend forwardly and rearwardly, parallel to the feeling movement of the blade 3. The bottom 8 of the stand has a plurality of upstanding ribs l3 the tops of which are all in the same horizontal plane. A thin fiat sheet l4 of brass or other non-magnetic material is supported on the ribs l3. The surfaces l2 and I2 and the upper surface of the sheet [4 form a guideway for the feeler blade 3.

The forward portion of the feeler blade 3 has a laterally extending arm [5 and another arm [6, the free ends of the arms being connected by a longitudinal member I! to thereby form a rectangular opening at the forward end of the feeler blade. The arms 15 and I6 and member I! may be formed integral with the feeler blade and to this end. may be molded or otherwise formed from a plastic or other non-magnetic material. This forward portion of th feeler blade rests on the sheet l4 and is guided by the surfaces l2 and [2. The arrangement is such that the feeler may float, i. e., may have pivotal and rectilinear movements or a combination thereof, in a horizontal plane, within the confines of the walls 9 and IIJ.

The invention in its broader aspects contemplates the provision of a magnet arranged to magnetically resist at least one and preferably both of the aforesaid movements (i. e. feeling and side slipping movements) of a side slipping feeler, the magnetic force also returning such feeler to its normal feeling position. In the specific embodiment shown,f two flat magnetic bodies l8 and 19 are employed, at least one and.

preferably both of the bodies being permanently magnetized. Each such bodyi's flat, rectangular,

ing its magnetic poles at its forward and realward ends.

The converging ends of ribs l3 are spaced to form abutments to engage the body l8 and hold the same in fixed position on the bottom 8 of the feeler stand. Th sheet l4, while shown broken away on Figs. 1-3, actually entirely covers the ribs l3 and body l8 and acts as a separator between the two magnetic bodies. The body I9 is fixed to the forward portion of the feeler blade 3 as by being fixed in the rectangular opening formed by the blade 3, arms [5 and I6, and member l1,

The magnetic body I9 is positioned in the horizontal plane in which the feeler blade 3 moves, which plane is spaced abov but parallel to the plane of the body l8. Where both such bodies are magnetized their respective polarities, in this embodiment, is such that the bodies are attracted together. All parts of the feeler except these two bodies being of non-magnetic material, the attracting forces between the bodies tend to move the bodies into vertical alignment.

The feeler mechanism preferably includes suitable stop means for determining the normal feeling position of the feeler blade 3. Such stop means may be formed by the vertical surfaces 20 and 2! on an upstanding lug 22 on the rearward end of the feeler stand. The stop surface 20 engages the feeler blade 3 to limit movement of the latter in the direction opposite to its side slipping movement. The stop surface 2| engages arm IE to limit rearward movement of the feeler blade.

The magnetic body 18 is tilted counterclockwise, when viewed in plan, so that its longitudinal axis is at an acute angle to the feeler blade 3. The magnetic body I9 is positioned with its longitudinal axis parallel to the forward portion of the feeler blade 3. Thus, the stops 20 and 2| prevent the body I9 from moving into exact vertical alignment with the body [8. The magnetic attracting forces between the poles of the bodies accordingly urge the feeler blade rearwardly and laterally to the position determined by said stops.

The non-magnetic sheet l4 mechanically separates the bodies l8 and H! to prevent their becoming demagnetized by being rubbed together, and also provides an air gap between the magnets. This sheet I4 is loosely positioned in the feeler stand and may be replaced when worn.

The relative position of the magnetic bodies l8 and I9 as above described is such that the magnetic force therebetween yieldingly resists both the forward feeling movement and the side lipping movement of the feeler blade 3, and also returns the feeler blade to its normal feeling position after each such movement. More specifical- 137, when the bobbin 2 with filling supply F thereon moves forwardly the filling engages the tip 4 and moves the entire feeler blade and body l9 forward in a straight line, againstthe action of said force, this being the feeling movement of the feeler. Then, as the bobbin moves rearwardly the magnetic force returns the feeler to its Fig. 1 position. The action of the magnetic force upon side slipping of the feeler will be apparent without further explanation.

A spring 23, fixed tothe feeler stand, is for the purpose of throwing the feeler blade rearwardly if the. shuttle should be so misplaced that'the shuttle or spring. I strikes the feeler, blade and throws the latter too far forwardly forthe magnetic force to effect its return.

The magnets of the above described feeler mechanism are preferably such that whenthe feeler blade is in its Fig. l or feeling position their magnetic force is just sufficient to induce proper side slipping of the feeler blade. Then, as the feeler blade moves forwardly the magnetic resistance to such movement decreases, as distinguished from the increasing spring tension of prior spring devices. The result is that the present feeler mechanism is sumciently delicate in operation that it will not cut or fray even very fine rayon filling.

It is also found that our improved feeler mechanism is appreciably more reliable in operation than previous mechanisms, in that it does not side slip falsely or prematurely as do prior feelers under certain operating conditions. This improved operation is apparently attributable solely to the action of the magnetic force or forces involved rather than to any mechanical feature of the mechanism.

Having fully disclosed the preferred embodiment of our invention, we claim:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms having a shuttle, the combination of a side slipping filling feeler mounted for feeling movement transverse to the shuttle and side slipping movement longitudinally thereof, and relatively movable magnetic bodies at least one of which is magnetized, said feeler being connected to one of said bodies and the other of said bodies being constructed and arranged to yieldingly resist said feeling movement and to thereafter return said feeler to normal feeling position.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms having a shuttle, the combination of a side slipping filling feeler, magnetically active means supporting said feeler for feeling movement transverse to the shuttle and side slipping movement longitudinally thereof, and means for yieldingly resisting said movements of said feeler, the last said means including a magnet constructed and arranged to yieldingly resist said feeling movement and to thereafter return said feeler to normal feeling position.

3. In a feeler mechanism for loom having a shuttle, the combination of a side slipping filling feeler, magnetically responsive means supporting said feeler for feeling movement transverse to the shuttle and side slipping movement longitudinally thereof, and a magnet constructed and arranged to yieldingly resist said feeling and side slipping movements of said feeler and to return said feeler to normal feeling position after each said movement.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms having a shuttle, the combination of a side slipping filling feeler mounted for feeling movement transverse to the shuttle and side slipping movement longitudinaly thereof, stop means for limiting movement of said feeler in the direction opposite to said feeling movement, and a pair of magnetically responsive elements at least one of which is magnetized, one of said elements supporting said feeler and the other of said element being constructed and arranged to yieldingly resist said feeling movement and to return said feeler toward said stop means after each said feeling movement.

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms having a shuttle, the combination of a side slipping filling feeler, means supporting said feeler for feeling movement transverse to the shuttle and side slipping movement longitudinally thereof, stop means for limiting movement of said feeler in the direction opposite to said feeling movement and also in the direction opposite to said side slipping movement, and anelement constructed and arranged to yieldingly urgesaid feeler toward said stop means said supporting means and said element being formed of magnetically responsive material and at least one of which i a magnet.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms having a shuttle, the combination of a side slipping filling feeler mounted for feeling movement transverse to the shuttle and side slipping movement longitudinally thereof, stop means determining the normal feeling position of said feeler, and magnetically responsive bodies at least one of which is magnetized, one of said bodies supporting said feeler and the other of said bodies being constructed and arranged to return said feeler to said feeling position after each feeling and each side slipping movement of said feeler.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms having a shuttle, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler mounted on said stand for feeling movement transverse to said shuttle and side slipping movement longitudinally thereof to indicate substantial exhaustion of the filling supply, said feeler being so constructed as to have the property of being attracted by a magnet, and a magnet carried by said stand and arranged to yieldingly resist said feeling and side slipping movements of said feeler.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms having a shuttle, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler mounted on said stand for feeling movement transverse to said shuttle and side slipping movement longitudinally thereof to indicate substantial exhaustion of the filling supply, said feeler and said stand having cooperating magnetic bodies at least one of which is magnetized, said bodies being arranged to magnetically resist said feeling movement of said feeler and thereafter return the latter to feeling position.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms having a shuttle, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler mounted on said stand for feeling movement transverse to said shuttle and side slipping movement longitudinally thereof to indicate substantial exhaustion of the filling supply, a magnetic body carried by said standand a cooperating relatively movable magnetic body carried by said feeler, at least one of said bodies comprising a magnet arranged to exert a magnetic force on the other of said bodies, said bodies being so positioned as to magnetically resist said feeling and side slipping movements of said feeler and return the latter to normal feeling position after each said movement.

10. In a feeler mechanism for. looms having a shuttle, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler mounted on said stand for feeling.1novement transverse to said shuttle and side slipping movement longitudinally thereof to indicate substantial exhaustion of the filling supply, stop means carried by said stand and engaging said feeler to determine the normal feeling position of the latter, a magnetic body carried by said stand and a cooperating relatively movable magnetic body'carried by said feeler, at least one of said bodies being magnetized to thereby exert a magnetic force on the other body, said bodies being so positioned as to magnetically urgesaid feeler into engagement with said stop means.

11. In a feeler mechanism for looms having a shuttle, the combination of a feeler blade having a filling engaging tip at its rearward end, means supporting said feeler blade for forward feeling movements and side slipping movement to indicate substantial exhaustion of the filling supply, the forward end of said feeler blade 'in-- cluding a magnetic body, a relatively stationary magnetic body, at least one of said bodies being magnetized to thereby exert a magnetic force on the other said body, said bodies being so positioned that said magnetic force urges said feeler blade rearwardly, and stop means for limiting rearward movement of said feeler blade.

12. In a feeler mechanism for looms having a shuttle, the combination of a feeler blade having a filling engaging tip at its rearward end, means supporting said feeler blade for forward feelin movements and side slipping movement to indicate substantial exhaustion of the filling supply, a magnetic body carried by said feeler blade at the forward end thereof, a relatively stationary magnetic body adjacent the first said body, at least one of said bodies being magnetized to thereby exert a magnetic force on the other said body, said bodies being so arranged that said magnetic force resists said forward and said side slipping movements of said feeler blade, and fixed stops engaging said feeler blade for limiting movement of the latter by said magnetic bodies.

13. In a filling feeler mechanism for shuttle looms, the combination of a feeler blade having a filling engaging tip at its rearward end, a feeler stand supporting said feeler blade for forward feeling movements and Side slipping movement to indicate substantial exhaustion of the filling supply, the forward end of said feeler blade including a magnetic body, a stationary magnetic body supported on said stand adjacent and laterally of the first said magnetic body, a stop on said stand limiting rearward movement of said feel-er blade and asecond stop on said stand limiting movement of said feeler blade in the direction opposite to said side slipping movement, at least one of said bodies being magnetized and said bodies being positioned to magnetically urge said feeler blade into engagement with said stops.

14. In a filling feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand having a guideway therein, a feeler blade mounted in said guideway for floating movement including forward feeling movement and side slipping movement to indicate substantial exhaustion of the filling supply, said stand having a stop engaging said feeler blade for limiting rearward movement thereof and a second stop limiting movement of said feeler blade in the direction opposite to said side slipping movement, a magnetic body fixed to said feeler blade at the forward end thereof, a stationary magnetic body fixed in said stand, at least one of said bodies being magnetized to attract the other said body, said bodies being positioned relative to each other to magnetically urge said feeler blade into engagement with said stops.

15. In a filling feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand having a guideway therein, a side slipping feeler blade floating in said guideway, said feeler blade having a filling engaging tip at its rearward end and a laterally extending arm on its forward portion, said feeler blade having forward feeling movements and side slipping movement to indicate substantial exhaustion of the filling supply, a stop carried by said stand and engaging said arm for limiting rearward movement of said'feeler blade, a second stop carried by said stand and engaging said feeler blade to limit lateral movement there of in the direction opposite to said side slipping movement, and a pair of cooperating magnets for controlling said feeler blade, one of said magnets being fixed to said forward portion of said feeler blade and the other of said magnets being fixed in said stand beneath the first of said magnets, said magnets being so positioned that the magnetic attracting force therebetween yieldingly urges said feeler blade into engagement with said stops,

16. In a filling feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand having a guideway therein, a feeler blade mounted in said guideway for floating movement including forward feeling movement and side slipping movement to indicate substantial exhausion of the filling supply, said stand having a stop engaging said feeler blade for limiting rearward movement thereof and a second stop limiting movement of said feeler blade in the direction opposite to said side slipping movement, a fiat magnetic body fixed to the forward portion of said feeler blade substantially in the plane thereof, a second flat magnetic body fixed to said stand in a plane parallel to the first said body, at least one of said bodies being magnetized to attract the other said body, the said second body being angularly displaced relative to the first said body in the direction to magnetically urge said feeler blade into engagement with said stops. 7

17'. In a feeler mechanism for looms having a shuttle, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler moutned on said stand for feeling movement transverse to said shuttle and side slipping movement longitudinally thereof to indicate substantial exhausion of the filling supply, a flat magnetic body carried by said stand in a plane parallel to the plane of said movements of said feeler, a second fiat magnetic body fixed to said feeler substantially in the last said plane, at least one of said bodies being magnetized to attract the other said body, stop means on said stand for determining the normal feeling position of said feeler, and converging ribs on said stand, said ribs'fo rming abutments arranged to hold the first said body angularly displaced relative to thesaid second body in such position that the magnetic force between said bodies urges said feeler toits said feeling position,

18. In a feeler mechanism for looms having a shuttle, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler mounted on said stand for feeling movement transverse to said shuttle and side slipping movement longitudinally thereof to indicate sub stantial exhaustion of the filling supply, said feeler and said stand having superposed cooperating magnetic bodies offset relatively to each other at least one of which is magnetized, said bodies being arranged to magnetically resist said feeling and side slipping movements of said feeler blade and to return the latter to feeling position after each said movement, and a non-magnetic separator sheet positioned between said bodies to prevent contact therebetween.

' CARL D. BROWN.

RICHARD E. CHARD. 

